What Is Upstream Processing (USP)?
The upstream part of a bioprocess refers to the initial stage in which microbes/cells are grown, e.g., bacterial or mammalian cell lines in bioreactors. Upstream processing involves all the steps related to inoculum development:
- Media Preparation
- Cell Culture
- Cell Separation
- Harvest
When the cells have reached the desired density, they are harvested and moved to the downstream section of the bioprocess.